ncierminaiion io aia in its moaincation on ine
lir.it opportunity, affords strong aitd conclusive
i -vidence thai u was not intended (o be perma-
e:it, and of the expediency and noceisity of i
& thorough revision.
In recommending io Congress reduction of the
present rates of duty, and a revision and modifica
tion of the act of 1812, 1 am far from entertaining
opinions unfriendly to the manufacturers. On the
contrary, 1 desire to see them prosperous, as far
sis they can be so, without imposing unequal bur
dens on other interests. The advantage under
ny system of indirect taxation, even within the
revenue standard, must be in faror of the manu-1
lacturing interest; and of this no other interest;
will complain.
I recommend to Congress the abolition of the
minimum principle, or assumed, arbitrary, and
false values,, and of specific duties, and the sub
stitution in their place of ad valorem duties, as the
fairest and most equitable indirect lax which can
be imposed. Hy the ad valorem principle, all ar
lioles are taxed according to their cost or value',
md those which are of inferior quality, or of small
cost, bear only the just proportion of the tax with
iln.-e which are of &unor quality or greater cost.
The articles consumed by all are taxed at the
yame rate. A system of ad valorem revenue du
ties, with proper discriminations and proper guards
ngninst frauds in collecting them, it is not doubt
ed, will afford ample incidental advantages to the
manufacturers, and enable them to derive as great
profit as can be derived from any other regular
business.
It is believed that such a system, strictly with
in the revenue standard, will place the manufactu
ring interests on a stable fooling, and inure to
their permanent advantage ; while it will, as near
ly as may be practicable, extend to all the great
interests of the country the incidental protection
which can lie afforded by our revenue laws.
Such a system, when once firmly established,
would be permanent, and not be subject to the
constant complaints, agitations, and changes which
must ever occur, when duties are not laid for rev
enue, but for the "protection merely" of a favored
interest.
In the deliberations of Congress on this subject,
it is hoped that a spirit of mutual concession and :
compromise between conflicting interests may pre
vail, and that the result of their labors may be
crowned with the happiest consequences. j
By the Constitution of the United States it is!
provided, that " no money shall be drawn from the i
treasury but in consequence of appropriations
made by law." A public treasury was undoubted-
ly contemplated and intended to be created, in '
which the public money should be kept from the
period of collection until needed for public uses.
In the collection and disbursement of the public
money no agencies have been employed by law,
except such as were appointed by the Govern-
ment, directly responsible to it, and under its con
trol, i
The safe-keeping of the public money should be ;
confided to a public treasury created by law, and
under like responsibility and control. It is not to
be imagined that the framers of the Constitution
cduld have intended that a treasury should be cre
ated as a place of deposite and safe-keeping of the
public money which was irresponsible to the Go
vernment. The first Congress under the Consti
tution, by the act of the 2d September, 1789, "to
establish the Treasury Department," provided for
the appointment of a treasurer, and made it his
dutv "to receive .and keen themonevs of the Uni
ted States," and " al all times' to submit to the
Secretary of the Treasury and the Comptroller, or I
either of them, the inspection of the moneys in his
hands."
That banks, national or state, could not huve j
been intended to be used as a substitute for the !
treasury spoken of in the constitution, as keepers .
of the public money, is manifest from the fact, that '
at that time there was no national bank, and but '
three or four State banks of limited capital exist-j
eo in tne country, lheir employment as deposi
tories was at first resorted to, to a limited extent,
out with no avowed intention of continuing them :
permanently, in place of the treasury of the con-
stitution. When they were afterwards from time ,
to time employed, it was from motives of supposed j
convenience.
Our experience has shown, that when banking 1
corporations have been the keepers of the public j
money, and been thereby made in effect the treas- t
ury, the government can have no guaranty that it
can command the use of its own money for public j
purposes. The late Bank of the United States '
proved to be faithless The State Banks which
were afterwards employed, were faithless. But a j
few years ago, with millions of public money in
their keeping, the Government was brought almost 1
to bankruptcy, and the public credit seriously im
paired, because of their inability or indisposition
to pay, on demand, to the public creditors, in the
only currency recognized by the Constitution.
Their failure occurred in a period of peace, and ,
great inconvenience and loss were suffered by the '
public from it. Had the country been involved in J
a foreign war, that inconvenience and loss would
have been much greater, and might have resulted
in extreme public calamity.
The public money should not be minded with
the private funds of banks or individuals, or be I
used for' private purposes. When it is placed in ,
banks for safe-keeping it is in effect loaned to'
them without interest, and is loaned by them upon '
interest to the borrowers from thera. The public
money is converted into banking capital, and is
used and loaned out for the private profit of bank'
stockholders ; and when called for, ;(as was the
case in 1837,) it may be in the pockets of the bor
rowers from the banks, 'instead of being; in the i
public treasury contemplated by the constitution. I
The framers of the .constitution could never have j
intended that the money paid into the .treasury !
beyond the control of the government.
Banks which hold the public money are often
tempted, by a desire of gain, to extend their loans,
increase their circulation, and thus stimulate, if
not produce a spirit of speculation and extrava
gance, which sooner or later must result in ruin to
thousands. If the public money be not permitted
lo be thus used, but be kept in the treasury and
paid out to the public creditors in gold and silver,
the temptation afforded by its deposite with banks
tu an un,uui v.pau?iuu ui HJcil UU51 Iluoci VVUU1U UC j
checked, -while the amount of the constitutional1
currency left in circulation would be eidarged. by
its employment in the public collections jand dis-
bursements, and the banks themselves would, in
consequence, be found in a safer and sounder con
dition. At present. State banks are employed as depos
itaries,, but without adequate regulation of law,
whereby the puUic.money can he secured against
i lie casualties and excesses, revulsions, suspen-.
fcions. and defalcations, to which, .from. overissues,
overtrading, an inordinate desire lor gain, or,other
-l,. ....
causes, they are constantly exposed.
The See-
retarv of the 1 reasurv Has in all cases,
when it
was practicable, taken collateral security for
the
amount, which they hold, by the pledge of stocks
of the United States, or such of the States as were
in good credit. Some of the deposite banks have
given this description of security, and others have
declined to do so.
Entertaining the opinion that " the separation of
the moneys of the Government from banking in
stitutions is indispensable for the safety of the
funds of the Goverrment and the rights of the
people," I recommend to Congress that provision
be made bv law for such separation, and that a
Constitution! Treasury be created for the safe-L-ppm'n"-
of "the public money. The Constitution
al Treasury recommended is designed as a secure
depository for the public money, without any pow
er to make loans and discounts, or to issue any
paner whatever as a currency or circulation. I
cani.ot doubt that such a Treasury as was content-j
plated by the Constitution, should be independent
of all banking corporations.
The money of the people should be kept in the
treasury of the people created by law, and be in
the custody of agents of the people chosen by
themselves, according to the forms of the consti
tution ; agents who are directly responsible to the
government, who are under adequate bonds and
oaths, and who are subject to severe punishments
for any embezzlement, private use, or misapplica
tion of the public funds, and for any failure in
other respects to perform their duties To say
that the people or their government aro incompe
tent, or not to be trusted with the custody of their
own money, in their own treasury, provided by
themselves, but must rely on the presidents, cash
iers and stockholders of banking institutions, not
appointed by them, nor responsible to them, would
be to concede that they are incompetent for self-
eovernment.
In recommending the establishment of a consti
tutional treasury, in which the public money shall
be kept, I desire that adequate provision be made
by law for its safety, and that all executive discre-
tion or control over it shall be removed, except j
such as may be necessary in directing its disburse
ment in pursuance of appropriations made by law.
Under our present land system, limiting the j
m : " !
minimum price at which the public lands can be execution of these orders, as well as upon the dis
entered to $1 25 per acre, large quantities of infe- cipline of the army itself. To be in strength to
rior lands remain unsold, because they will not ! protect the people and territory of Texas, in the
command that price. From the records of the ( event Mexico shou'd commence hostilities, or in
General Land Office it appears, that, of the public vade her territories with a large army, which she
lands remaining unsold in the several Stales and j threatened, 1 authorized the general assigned to
Territories in which they are situated, 3U, 105,577 the command of the army of occupation to make
acres have been in the market, subject to entry ) requisitions for additional forces from several of
more than twenty years; 49,038,641 acres for more j the States nearest the Texan territory, and which
than fifteen years; 73,074,600 acres for more than ' could most expeditiously furnish them, if, in his
ten years; and 106,176,961 acres for more than opinion, a larger force than that under his corn
five years. Much the largest portion of these lands i maud, and the auxiliary aid which, under like cir
will continue to be unsaleable at the minimum 1 cumstances, he was authorized to receive from,
price at which they are permitted to be sold, so j Texas, should be required.
long as large territories of lands from which the j i The contingency upon which the exercise of
more valuable portions have not been selected arejthis authority depended, has not occurred. The
annually brought into market by the government, circumstances under which two companies of
With the view to the sale and settlement of these State artillery from the city of New-Orleans were
inferior lands, 1 recommend that the price be grad- sent into Texas, and mustered into the service of
uated and reduced below the present minimum the United States, are fully stated in the report of
rate, confining the sales at the reduced prices to the Secretary of War. I recommend to Congress
settlers and cultivators, in limited quantities If that provision be made for the payment of these
graduated and reduced in price for a limited term ; troops, as well as a small number of Texan volun
to one dollar per acre, and after the expiration of teers, whom the commanding general thought it
that period lor. a second and third term to lower'
rates, a very large portion of those, lands would be
purchased, and many worthy citizens, who are un
able to pay higher rates, could purchase homes
for themselves and their families. By adopting
the policy of graduation and reduction of price, ' Bay Company in the North, and a part as far as
these inferior "lands will be sold for their real val-1 the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, and the
ue, while ihe States in which they he will be freed ' head waters of the tributaiy streams of the Colo
from the inconvenience, if not injustice, to which 1 rado of the West. The exhibition of this military
they are subjected, in consequence of the United
States continuing to own large quantities of
He lands within their borders, not liable to taxa
tion for the support of their local governments.
I recommend the continuance of the policy of!
granting pre-emptions, in its most liberal extent,
to all those who have settled, or may hereafter
settle on the public lands, whether surveyed or
unsurveyed, to which the Indian title may have ,
been extinguished at the time of settlement. It
has been found by experience, that in consequence
of combinations of purchasers and other causes, a
very small quantity of the public lands, when sold
at public auction, commands a higher price than ,
the minimum rale established by law. The set- j
tiers on the public lands are, however, but rarely
able to secure their homes and improvements at ,
the public sales at that rate: because these com-1
binations, by means of the capital they command,
and their superior ability to purchase, render it im
possible for the settler to compete with them iu
the market. By putting down all competition,
these combinations of capitalists and speculators
are usually enabled to purchase the lands, inclu
ding the improvements of the settlers, at the mini
mum price of the government, and either turn them
out of their homes, or extort from them, according
to their ability to pay, double Or. quadruple the
amount paid for them to government. It is to the ,
enterprise and perseverance of the hardy pioneers
ol the west, who penetrate the wilderness with
their families, suffer the dangers, the privations
and the hardships attending the settlement of a ;
new .uuuiuijr, uiiu prepuru iuis way ior me uouy oi
emigrants who, in the course of a few years, usu
ally follow them, that we are, in a great degree,
indebted for the rapid extension and aggrandize
ment of our country
Experience has proved that no portion of our
population are more patriotic than the hardy and
brave ncn of the frontier, or more ready to obey
the call of their country, and to defend her rights
and her honor, whenever and by whatever enemy
assailed. They should be protected froin the
grasping speculator, and secured, at the minimum
price of the public lands, in the humble homes
which they have improved by their labor. With
this end in view, all vexatious or unnecessary re
strictions huposed upon them by the cxiiti:ig,Apre
emption laws should be repealed or modified. It
is the true policy of the Government to afford fa
cilities to its citizens to become tile owners of
small portions of our vast public domain at low
and moderate rates.
The present system of managing the mineral
lands of the United States is believed to be radi
cally defective. .More than a million of acres of
the public lands, supposed to contain lead and
other minerals, have been reserved from sale, and
numerous leases upon them have been granted to
individuals upon a.stipulajed rent. The system of
granting leases has proved, to be not. only unprof
itable to the Government, but unsatisfactory to the
citizens who have gone upon the lands, and must,
if continued, lay the foundation of much future
difficulty between the Government and the les
sees. According to the -.official records, the a
mount of rents received bv the Government for
the years 1841, 1813 ahd'lb-H, uas $6,354
74, while the expenses of the system during the.
same period, including salaries of superintendents, j
agents, clerks, and incidental expenses, were ;
20,1 1 1 1 1 the income ueing less man one-iounn
of the expenses. To this pecuniary loss maybe
added the injury sustained by the public in conse
quence of the destruction of timber and the care
less and wasteful manner of working the mines.
The system has given rise to much litigation be
tween the United Stales and individual citizens,
producing irritation and excitement in the mineral j
region, and involving the government in heavy ad-
ditional expenditures. It is believed that similar
losses and embarrassments will continue to occur, (
while the present system of leasing theso lands '
lemain unchanged. These lands are now under .
the superintendence and care of the War Depart-
msnt, with the ordinary duties of which they have
no proper or natural connection. I recommend
the repeal of the present system, and that these'
lands be placed under the superintendence and
management of the General Land Office, as other
public lands, and be brought into market and sold
upon such terms as Congress in their wisdom may
prescribe, reserving to the government an equita
ble per centage of the gross amount of mineral
product, and that the preemption principle be ex
tended to resident miners and settlers upon them,
at the minimum price which may be established
by Congress.
I refer you to the accompanying report of the
Secretary of War, for information respecting the t
present situation of the army, and its operations
during the past year ; tile state of our defences;
the condition of the public works ; and our rela
tions with the various Indian tribes within our
limits or upon our borders. I invite your atten
tion lo the suggestions contained in that report, in
relation to these prominent objects of national in
terest. When orders were given during the past sum
mer for concentrating a military force on the wes
tern frontier of Texas, our troop were widely dis
persed, and in small detachments, occupying posts
remote from each other. The prompt and cxpe-
ditious manner in which an army, embracing more
than half our peace establishment, was drawn to
gether on an emergency so sudden, reflects great
credit on the officers who were intrusted with the
necessary to receive or muster into our service
During the last summer, the first regiment of
dragoons made extensive excursions through the
Indian country on our borders, a part of them ad
vancing nearly to the possessions of the Hudson s
! force among
pub-Jgions, and U:
me Indian inues in mose aisiani re-
the councils held wiln them by the
commanders of the expeditions, it is believed, will
have a most salutary influence in restraining them
from hostilities among themselves, and ruaintain-
ing friendly relations between them and the United
States. An interesting account of one of these
excursions accompanies the report of the Secreta-
ry of War.
Under the directions of the War Department,
Brevet Captain Freemont, of the Corps of Topo
graphical Engineers, has been employed since
1812 in exploring the country West of the Missis-
sippi, and beyond the Rocky Mountains. Two
expeditions have already been brought to a close,
and the reports of that scientific and enterprising
officer have furnished much interesting and valu-
able information, lie is now engaged in a third
expedition ; but it is not expected that this ardu
ous service will be completed in season to enable
me to communicate the result to Congress at the
present session.
Our relations with the Indian tribes are of a fa
vorable character. The policy of removing them
to a country designed for their permanent residence,
west of the Mississippi and without the limits
of the organized States and Territories, is better
nnnrnrinrrtd hv thr-m thrin it wns n fnw vnars nan-
,v,iie education is now attended to. and the habits
of civilized life are gaining ground among them.
Serious difficulties of long standing continue to
distract the several parties into which the Chero
kes aIe niiappjly divided. The efforts of the
Government to adjust the difficulties between them
have heretofore been unsuccessful ; and there re
mains no probability that this desirable object can
be accomplished without the aid of farther legisla
tion by Congress. I will, at an early period of
your session, present the subject for your consid
eration, accompanied with an exposition of the
complaints and claims of the several parties into
which the Nation is divided, with a view to the
adoption of such measures by Congress as may
unable the Executive to do justice to them respec
tively, and to put an end, if possible, to the dis
sensions which have long prevailed, and still pre
vail, among them,
1 refer you to tiie report of the Secretary of the
Navy for the present condition of that' branch of
the national defence ; and for grave suggestions,
having for their object the increase of its efficien
cy, and a greater economy in its management.
During the past year the officers and men have
performed their duty in a satisfactory manner.
The orders which have been given, have been ex
ecuted with promptness and fidelity. A larger
force than has often formed one squadion under
our flag was readily concentrated in the Gulf of
Mexico, and, apparently, without unusual effort.
It is especially to be observed, that, notwithstand
ing the union of so considerable a force, no act
was committed that even the jea'ousy of nn irsi
tated power could construe as an act of aggres
sion ; and that the commander of the, squadron,
and his officers, ip strict conformity, with their in-s-iructions,
holding themselves ever'ready for the
inot active duty, have achieved the still purer
glory of. contributing to the preservation of peace.
; 'iris -believed thai iif all-our foreign stations the
honor of our flag has been maintained, and that,
generally, our ships of war have been distinguish
ed for their' good discipline and order. 1 am hap
py to add, that the display of maratime force
which was required by the events of the summer,
has been made wholly within the usual appropria
tions for the service of the year, so that no addi
tional appropriations are required.
The commerce of the United States, and with
it the navigating interest, have steadily and rapid
ly increased since the organization of our covern
mcnt, until, it is believed, we are now second to
but one Power in the world, and at no distant day
we shall probably be inferior to none. Exposed j
as they must be, it has been a wise policy to af
ford to these important interests protection with
our ships of war, distributed in the great highways
of trade throughout the world. For more than thir
ty years appropriations have been made, and an
nually expended, for the gradual increase of our
naval forces. In peaco, our navy performs the
important duty of protecting our commerce ; and,
in the event of war, will be, as it has been, a most
efficient means of defence.
The successful use of steam navigation on the
ocean has been followed by the introduction of
war-steamers in great and increasing numbers in
to the navies of the principal maritime Towers of
the worid. A due regard lo our own safety and to
an efficient protection to our large and increasing
commerce demands a corresponding increase on
our part. No country has greater facilities for
ihe construction of ves.sels of this description than
ours, or can promise itself greater advantages from"
their employment. They are admirably adapted
to the protection of our commerce, to the rapid
transmission of intelligence, and to the coast de
fence. In pursuance of the wise policy of a grad
ual increase of our Navy, large supplies of live
oak timber, and other material's for ship building,
have been collected, and are. now under shelter
and in a state of good preservation, while iron
steamers can be built with great facility in vari
ous parts of the Union.
The use of iron as a material, especially in the
construction of steamers, which can enter with
safety many of the harbors along our coast now
inaccessible to vessels of greater draught, and the
practicability of constructing them in the interior,
strongly recommends that liberal appropriations
should be made fur this important object.
Whatever may hae been our policy in the
earlier stages, of ihe government, when the na
tion was in its infancy, our shipping interests
and commerce comparatively small, our resour
ces limited, our population sparse and scarcely
extending beyond ihe limits of the original thir
teen States, that policy must be essentially dif
ferent now that we have grown from threo to
more than twenty millions of people, that our
commerce, carried in our own ships, is found in
every sea, and that our tentorial boundaries
and settlements have been so greatly expanded
Neither our commerce, nor our long line of
coast on the ocean, and on the lakes, can be
successfully defended against foreign aggres
sion by means -of fortifications alone. These
are essential al important commercial and mili
tary points, but our chief reliance for this object
must be on a well organized, efficient navy.
The benefits resulting from such a navy are not
confined to the Atlantic States. The produc
tions of the interior which seek, a market abroad,
are directly dependent on the safety and free
dom of our commerce. The occupation of the
Balize below New Orleans, by a hostile force,
would embarrass, if not stagnate, the whole ex
port trade of the Mississippi, and affect the val
ue of the agricultural products of the entire val
ley of that miglny river and its tributarias.
It has never been our policy to maintain large
standing armies in time of peace. They are
contrary to the genius of our free institutions,
would impose heavy burdens on tho people, and
be dangerous to public liberty. Our reliance
for protection and defence on the land must be
mainly on our citizen soldiers, who will ever
be ready, as they ever have been ready in times
past, to rush wnh alacrity, at the call of their
country, to her defence. This description of
force, however, cannot defend our coast, har
bors, and inland sea.i, nor protect our commerce
on the ocean or lakes. These must be pro
tected by our navy.
Considering our increased naval force, and
especially of steam vessels, corresponding with
our growth and importance as a nation, and
proportioned to the increased and increasing
naval power of other nations, of vast lmpoitauce
as regards our safety, and the great uud grow
ing interests to be protected by n, 1 recommend
tho subject to (ho favorable consideration of
Congiess.
The report of the Postmaster General here
with communicated, contains a detailed state
ment of the operations of his department during
the past year. It will be seen thai the income
from the postages will fall short of the expen
ditures for the year between one and two mil
lions of dollars. This deficiency has been
caused by the reduction of the rates of poslage,
which was made by the act of the 3d of March
la.it. No principle has been more generally
acquiesced in by the people than that this de
partment should sustain itself hy limiting its ex
penditures to Us income. Congress has never
.sought to make it a source of revenue for gen
eral purposes, except for a short period during
ihe last war with Great Britain, nor should it
ever become a charge on the general treasury.
If Congress shall adhere to (his principle, as
I think they ought, it will be necessary either
to curtail the present mail service, m as io re
duce ihe expenditures, or so to modify the act
of the third of March last as to improve its rev
enues The extension of the mall service, and
the additional facilities which will he demanded
by the rapid extension and increase of popula
tion on our western frontier, will not admit of
such curtailment as will materially reduce the
present expenditures. In ihe adjustment of
the taiifl of postages ihe interests ol the people
demand, thai the lowest rates be adopted which
will produce ihe necessary revenue to meet the
expenditures of the department. I invite the
attention of Congress to tho suggestions of the
Poitinasier Geneiul on this subject, under the
belief that sJirch.a modification of the late law
may be made as will yield sufficient revedue
without further calls on the tieasury, and w,
very little change in the present rates of pll3tae
Proper measures have been taken, in pUr,u
ance of the act of the 3d of March last, or t,,.
establishment of lines of mail steamers between
this and foreign countries. The importance 0f
this service commends itself strongly iu rayiJ
able consideration.
With the growth of our country the pu!,Iic
business which devolves on the heads of
several Executive Departments has greatly .
creased. In some respects, the distribution of
duties among thcin seems lo be incongruous
and inany of ihese might be transferred fronl
one to another with advantage to the public in
terests. A more auspicious lime for the con
sideration of this subject by Congress, whh
view to system in the organization of the ,ev,
eral departments, and a more appropriate dut
sion of the public business, will nut proba 1
occur.
The most important duties of ihe Siate De
partment relate to our foreign affairs. By k,u
great enlargement of the family of nation, ij,
increase of our commerce, and ihe correpon.
ing extension of our consular system, the Lu
siuess of this department has been greatlv in
creased. In its present organization, mai,y
duties of a domestic nature, and coiiaistiti" of
details, are devolved on the Secretary of S air,
which do not appropriately belong to the lorei-ii
depaitment of the government, and may pni,,.
erly he transferred to some other department.
Qno of these grows out of the present Mate f
the law concerning ihe Patent Office, which, ;i
few years since, was a subordinate clerkship,
but has become a distinct bureau of great ntl.
portance. With an excellent internal organic,
tion, it is still connected with ihe Stato U,:.
partment. In the transaction of its biHnes,
questions of much importance to inventor, ami
to the community, frequently arise, which, bv
existing laws, are referred for a decision m a
board, of which the Secretary of State is a
member. These questions are legal, and the
connexion which now exists between the Sta'o
Department and the Patent office, may, with
great propriety and advantage, be trausleired to
the Attorney General.
Iu his last annual message, Mr. Madi.ou in
vited attention to a proper provision for the At
torney General as an "important improvement
in the executive establishment." This recom
mendation was repeated by some of his succes
sors. The official duties of the Attorney Gen
eral have been much increased within a ft-w
years, and his office has bpcome one of great
importance, rl.is duties may be still further in
creased with advantage to the public in'ereais.
As an executive officer, his residence and con
stant attention at the seal of government are re
quired. Legal questions involving important
principles, and large amounts of public money,
are constantly referred to him by the President
and executive departments for his examination
and decision, The public business under bu
official management before the judiciary hat
been so augmented by the extension of our ter
ritory, and the acts of Congress authorizing
suits against the United States for large bodies
of valuable public lands, as greatly to increase
his labors and responsibilities. 1 therefore re
commend that the Attorney General be placed
on the same footing with ihe heads of ihe other
executive departments with such subordinate
officers, provided by law for his department, as
may be required to discharge the additional du
ties which have been or may be devolved upon
him.
Congress possesses the power of exclusive
legislation over the District of Columbia; and
I commend the interests of its inhabitants to
your favorable consideration. The people of
this District have no legislative body of their
own, and must confide their local as well at
their ( general interests to representatives in
whose election they have no voice, and over
whose official conduct they have no control.
Each member of the National Legislature
should consider himself as their immediate re
presentative, and should be the more ready n
give attention to their interests and wants, be
cause he is not responsible to them. I recom
mend that a liberal and generous spirit may
characterize your measures in relation to them.
1 shall be ever disposed to show a proper re
gard for their wishes; and within constitutional
limits, shall at all times cheerfully co-operate
with you for the advancement of their, welfare.
I trust it may nqt be deemed inappropriate n
the occasion for me to dwell for a moment on
the memory of tho most eminent citizen of our
country, who, during the summer that is ?oiis
by, has descended to tho tomb. The enjey
ment of contemplating, at the advanced age f
near four score years, the happy condition f
his couniry,cheered the. last hours of And'wJack
son, who departed this life in the traiirttill hopa
of a blessed immortality. His death was hap
py, as his life had been eminently useful. Hi
had an unfaltering confidence in the virtue and
capacity of the people, and in the permanence
of that free government which he had largely
contributed lo esiahlish and defend. Hi- K,tMl
deeds hud secured io him the affections of h'.
fellow-citizens, and it was his happiness n v''
ness the growth and glory of his rot n'ry whtt't
he loved so well. He departed ainuNi the
edicfions of millions of freejiien. The wtv.un
paid its tribute to his memory at his luinb!
Coming generations will learn from his exam
ple the love of country and ihe rights of man
In his language on a similar occasion
present, "I now commend you, fellow-citizen.,
(o the guidance of Almighty God, with a full
reliance on His merciful providence for the
maintenance of our free institutions; and with
an earnest supplication,, that whatever errors it
may be my(lot lo commit in discharging the ar
duous dutjes which have devolved on ine, will
find a remedy in the harmony and wisdom of
your counsels." JAM ES K. POLK.
Washington, Dqcembcr 2, 1815.
1